A powerful 8.7-magnitude earthquake struck Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, prompting tsunami warnings in both Japan and the U.S. state of Hawaii.
The first tsunami wave was recorded at Hanasaki Port in Japan’s northern Hokkaido region, with a height of approximately 30 centimeters (about one foot).
Japan’s Meteorological Agency warned that tsunami waves are significantly more powerful than regular sea waves. A wave just 50 centimeters high can exert a force of up to 200 kilograms—strong enough to knock down an adult.
Authorities have urged residents in affected areas—from Hokkaido to Wakayama—to evacuate immediately to higher ground and avoid coastal or riverside areas.
The agency further noted that multiple waves may occur after the initial one, and in many cases, subsequent waves can be even more powerful. People have been advised to remain in safe areas until all warnings are officially lifted. The tsunami waves are expected to strike between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. local time.
Meanwhile, Hawaii’s Emergency Management Agency has ordered evacuations in some coastal areas due to the threat of potentially destructive waves. Officials in Hawaii have also urged the public via social media to “stay alert and take immediate action.”